St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-01-25
THE HUNTINGTON BENEFIT.
An Affair CharImingty Artistic and
Socially successful


things save one. Musically, it was grand
success: socially, it was ali that could have
been desired: financially, it was not fail
ure, but as a popular expression of kindly
feeling toward an artistic than whom there
is no greater favorite with Minneapolis
people, it was far from eaualing
what it should have been made
This fact was in 0no degree
not the slightest-owing to anything lack
ing in the fair beneficiary, for no one
doubts her great popularity here. 1t can
only be aScrlhed to the lad les and gentle
men who managed the concert. 1t may be
that they accomplished all they intended,
and III that case criticism is uncalled for.
From the very first mention of the subject,
It's promoters lost no opportunity to make
1t understood that this benefit was
an affair of leading society people. 1t
was mentioned in the papers as such, and
talked of in the same way, and the result
was that majority Of the people who have
heard and admired Miss Huntington 1eJ
that their presence was not wanted and did
not attend. The house was possibly two
thirds full. whereas 1t would have been
filed to overlooking had not the mass
of the people been made to feel
that it was an ariStOcratic movement.
Of the audience it may be said they were
quick TO respond to the good work of the
performers. and it would be hard to bring
together greater number of the Weather
people of the city. In the front seats of
the parquet a large delegation from the st.
George Snow Shoe club. of st. Paul. had
seats. Miss Huntington will take part in a
benefit for this club tomorrow evening.
The boxes were occupied by prominent
people OF the city. Many of the ladies
c11aTv Il faTrr t1r
men were in full dress. The title page of
the folded programme, which was engraved
on heavy paper. bore an original design
which included a fine portrait Of Miss Hunt
ingtOn; ii was the work of Douglas VOlk.
OF the ladies and gentlemen who assisted,
many kind things might be said. Mr.. Por
ter was heartily applauded after his solo.
bat would not sing again. The clarionet
playing OF Mr.. Ringwall was heartily en-
jOyed by those who appreciate the instru-
ment. Miss Huntington appeared fourth
on the programme. and the warm welcome
she received must have been very grateful
to her. She wore beautiful dress of pale
blue brocaded satin. en- traiIie with full
draped overdress of lace, which was caught
up on either side, displaying an elegant
garniture of heavy satin cord and bells;
the pointed cOrSage was sleeveless, with
square collar. cut low in front. long
light tan mOuSQuetaire gloves and a corSage
bouquet Of large pearl roses. fastened with
q diamond dagger, completing a costume
that was peculiarly becoming to the lady's
Queenly beauty But when she sang one
quickly forgot all things else; the beautiful
tones. so full, so sweet. 50 clear, were sim
ply enhancing. Criticism is powerless
when the ear Is filled with such harmony,
and the absolute silence that spread over
the audience was as truthful and
great 4 compliment to the high
abilities of the singer, as was the rapturOuS
applause that greeted the last notes of her
song. Flowers were sent up, and the audi
ence was loud in its demand for an encore.
which he-happY lady gave.
Miss Huntington has bewtching way of
accepting the plaudits OF her hearers. In
person taifafId by nature dignifed it would
be a silly atfectatiOn were she TO attempt
any of the Wiles which many singers en-
ploy. and she knows it. Besides
which, she never forgets for an
instant her trIie wOmanliness and so she
makes her hearers feel the Joy it gives her
to please them. and does not try to hide the
honest pride which is the Just prerogatve of
success. In her second number Goodbye
Miss Huntington gave a song which was
thoroughly appreciated by every person in
the house. From the first note the magnet
ism of her voice wrought its bewitchng
spell. and The imprisoned notes
seemed to stir all with the thought
of separation which the title suggests
Again the breathless stiffness, and again
the applause, " ich fairly deafened the
people who made it. The artistic bowed
her thanks. but her friends were not to be
so easily appeased, and she gave Comm
ThrO the Rye" in a way so coy and pleas
ing that her hearers were only less pleased
than before; they demanded more and kept
up loud acclaim until the lady, whose
kindness is boundless, sang for them
a third ballad, beginning Peacefully
Slumber My Own Darling" 1t may be the
people took the covert hint. or else they
were soOthed by the sweet voice which can
raise any feeling at will. and they subsidized.
After the second number Miss Huntington
received beautiful basket of flowers, with
the compliments of the st. George snow
shoers. Her third appearance was repeti-
ton of the previous one Never has a
singer been so enthusiastically received by
a Minneapolis audience. and never did
singer so richly merit cordial reception.
The piano solo of Prof Zoch was mag
nifcently rendered and though the audi
ence persisted in recalling him. it was long
before he obeyed their mandate
Mr.. Grethen's violin work was equally
well received, but he positively refused to
respond to the emphatic encore given him.
OF the orchestra it must be said that the
work Mr.. Danz is doing for this city is not
appreciated as it deserves to be. Last night
his orchestra played eXcellently, and in any
other city in the country they would have
received recognition commensurate with
their superior skill. 1t is too often true
that we do not appreciate the good things
we have always with rs.
~
Miss Huntington was regarded as must
cal prodigy while still very young. When
only years Old she used to sing. to her
sisters accompaniment. arias from the
operas then in vogue, and there was moth
ing too difficult for her to attempt in her
childish way: and while yet a child her
voice possessed the intensity of feeling and
the rare pathos, and also that remarkable
resonance and carrying quality which
are, III such an eminent degree
its especial charms to-day Her
parents recognized from the first the brill
liant talents Of their daughter. and during
the time when her voice was developing.
from the age of II until she was II, her
mother never permitted her to sing in chorus
with other girls. nor to run any danger of
strainng her voice. even in the 81 ghtest
degree. While in Mrs. Sylvester Reeds
fashionable boarding school in New York
Miss Huntington eXcelled in art and the
languages. and was one of Mrs Reeds show
pupils. but during her stay there of over
three years she never once sang in public
and her teacher did not know what mar
Vicious song bird she was sheltering until
the return of her former pupil from Eu-
rope. 1t is in very great measure due to
the seduIous care OF a sensible mother that
Miss Huntington is possessed of voice of